Article by research team of international project published in most cited journal

28.07.2015

The article named "Black carbon emissions from Russian diesel sources: case study of Murmansk" was published in the interactive open-access journal of the European Geosciences union "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics", which has one of the highest citation index among journals in studies investigating the Earth's atmosphere.

This paper is the result of nearly three-year study within the international project "Arctic Black Carbon: Reduction of Black Carbon from Diesel Sources" implemented by MSTU Department of Energy and Transport and Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection together with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Battelle Memorial Institute (USA).

International project team led the detailed assessment of diesel emissions by surveying vehicles and traffic, and collecting data from other significant sources. They found that while on-road transportation is a major source of city diesel soot emissions, mining industry off-road vehicles are the largest source in the region due to both large diesel consumption and lack of emissions controls.

Why does it matter? Black carbon (BC) is a potent pollutant because of its effects on climate change, ecosystems, and human health. The impact of soot is a particular concern in the Arctic because its dark hue has the effect of absorbing more radiant energy from sunlight, changing the reflective nature of snow and ice, thus, contributing to its rapid melting.

Based on such successful experience of BC emissions inventory in the Murmansk region the research team is planning to continue studies on a nationwide inventory of Russian diesel black carbon emissions. The data will enhance understanding of Russian diesel sources and the magnitude of diesel emissions. Recommendations to reduce BC emissions and improve the ecological situation in the Murmansk region developed for the regional government provide a detailed data set for all stakeholders.